Inspiration:
In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.
–W. H. Auden
Puppy
What would it be like
to live this way –
with such an active innocence,
so thoroughly wrapped-round with hope?
Even children lose the ability
to dance with such playful purpose
as these scuffling paws.
On good days I imagine
that God loves like this,
each encounter an uncontainable
wrenching of joy. Such an act
defies responsibility and taste.
It makes a mockery
of newspapers and calendars,
declares bills and paychecks equal
in their delightful ripping
and flat taste against the tongue.
For just a moment, stand still:
eyes wide, ears forward, nose
to the wind. Know that
dinner is provided, and a kind hand
moving toward your neck.
There. Now. Can’t you feel it?
That stray breeze started
as your tail began to wag.
BY REV. DR. LYNN UNGAR, MINISTER FOR LIFESPAN LEARNING, CHURCH OF THE LARGER FELLOWSHIP